CEBU – Seventeen of Cebu’s finest runners see action today in the 32nd Milo Marathon finals in Manila.
The Cebunao group includes Olympian Roy Vence, Rogelio Reli, Eugene Delposo, Terso Pamaybay, Bowen Montecillo, John Philip Duenas, Riez Enriquez, Bonifacio Monjas and Mendel Lopez.
The challenge from distaff side will come from Liezl Lumindas-Getaruelas, Miscelle Gilbuena, Madelyn Carter, Katie Fischer, Emily Chiongbian, Christy Sevilleno, Merlita Arias and Sharon Vega.
Some Cebu runners have to seek slots in the national finals from races outside of Cebu after the city only hosted a single leg that offered six final slots.
Vence, the pride of Bogo, and a former Olympian, qualified after finishing second in the Baguio elimination while Montecillo got his slot after finishing second as well in the Tarlac run. Lopez qualified after running in the Butuan leg.
Duenas, Duenas, Enriquez and Monjas, who are now with the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), got their slots from the Tagbilaran leg.
Getaruelas qualified after ruling the Dumaguete leg while Gilbuena, Arias, Sevilleno and Vega triumphed in Tagbilaran for the ticket to the nationals.
The rest of the Cebu runners qualified in the Cebu leg that had a record number of participants.
The Freeman learned that all the runners except Sevilleno are now in Manila ready for the challenge in the 42-kilometer race.
Should Sevilleno fail to join the race she will likely be sanctioned and all the privileges accorded her will be cut. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)